A Note for Parents

Our team of PJ Our Way professionals puts great thought into each month's selections. These books span a range of interests and reading levels, however, we cannot guarantee that every book is the right fit for every child. Each month, this blog will include updated parent information including summaries, discussion points, and content warnings for every title we offer.

Blog Authors

PJ Our Way Parents Blog

Have you ever wondered how we pick the books that we offer in PJ Our Way? This post is part of a series from the PJ Our Way Selection Committee. Learn more about why we selected Under the Domim Tree by Gila Almagor for the PJ Our Way lineup.
Read More »

April 18, 2018, is Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), the official day in Israel and the United States for remembering the Holocaust. The PJ Our Way Book Selection Committee chose Under the Domim Tree to highlight this day because rather than describing the direct atrocities of the Holocaust, it focuses on its aftermath. The fledgling state of Israel ended up absorbing thousands of orphans at a time when Israelis themselves were struggling to survive. To meet this demand, children’s villages were created throughout the country to function as mini-Kibbutzim where children could learn together, live together, and build community together. Under the Domim Tree tells the story of one of these children’s villages and how the young teens living there found support, joy, and even love within the community they created.

This is a poignant and beautifully written translation of a classic Israeli book modeled after the author’s personal experience.

This year, start your Passover season by giving your independent reader a great Passover themed book—one of these five modern spins on the story of the Exodus.
Read More »

What is the oldest book club on earth? It’s the Passover Seder, of course!

For thousands of years, families have been gathering to read, discuss, and revise the same book: The Passover Haggadah.

This year, start your Passover season by giving your independent reader a great Passover themed book. Encourage your child to talk about the books they’ve read, how they felt, and what they learned. Kids can enhance your Seder by engaging your guests with questions and table topics inspired by these modern spins on the story of the Exodus.

Check out our book list plus some discussion questions below:

For Younger Readers

Scarlett and Sam: Escape from Egypt: What is the best way to truly experience the Exodus from Egypt? By traveling back in time, of course! Kids will love experiencing the actual moments of leaving Egypt with characters they can relate to, Scarlett and Sam!

Mitzvah the Mutt: What could be more fun than a dog who likes matzo balls? What would have happened if your pet had been in Egypt? What song would she have sung after crossing the Red Sea?

Mrs. Kaputnik’s Pool Hall and Matzo Ball Emporium: The Kaputnik family finds freedom from hard times with some very hard and terrible matzo balls. But things in America are not as easy as they thought it would be. If there is a humorous side to being an immigrant in a new land, the Kaputnik family has found it!

For Older Readers

The Storyteller’s Beads: The miraculous story of how many Ethiopian Jews survived and escaped the horrors of persecution by walking to Sudan and being secretly airlifted to Israel is nothing short of a modern day Exodus. This book tells the story of the unlikely friendship that develops between two Ethiopian girls that find that even when they’ve lost everything the desire for freedom remains.

Penina Levine is a Hard Boiled Egg: Penina knows she should listen to her teacher, but when her teacher insists she pretend to be the Easter bunny, Penina refuses to back down from her principles. Passover is her holiday and she will celebrate it with pride.

For Parents

Here are some discussion questions to use with these PJ Our Way books:

How can we raise our tweens to be attuned to the accomplishments and strong voices of Jewish women? And how can you make Jewish Women’s History Month relevant for your tweens? Try inspiring your kids with these five PJ Our Way selections. They’re better than any lecture or history lesson at helping kids learn more about accomplished Jewish women.
Read More »

How can we raise our tweens to be attuned to the accomplishments and strong voices of Jewish women? And how can you make Jewish Women’s History Month relevant for your tweens? Try inspiring your kids with these five PJ Our Way selections. They’re better than any lecture or history lesson at helping kids learn more about accomplished Jewish women.

For Older Readers

Under the Domim Tree(March 2018 selection) is the fictionalized memoir of Gila Almagor, “the queen of Israeli cinema and theater.” Almagor grew up in one of Israel’s first Children’s Villages which were designed to take in the large number of orphaned children who arrived in Israel after the Holocaust. Almagor was one of very few “Sabras” (Israeli-born) children who grew up in the village—her father died young and her mother was emotionally unstable. This beautiful story of survival and enduring friendship highlights the courage and talent of one of Israel’s most well-known cultural heroes.

Lucky Broken Girl (Arriving in homes in March 2018) is a beautifully written and poignant coming-of-age story based on the author’s childhood and gives a fascinating glimpse into the world of Jewish-Cuban immigrant life in 1960s New York. The book was selected as both the 2018 Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) selection and the 2017 Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award in Children’s Literature. Visit pjourway.org/jdaim for more information about the book and ideas for bringing the messages of kindness and inclusion to life.

For Younger Readers

How will Mirka ever prove that she is brave enough and strong enough to battle trolls with her very own sword? Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword is the wacky and unexpected story of how an Orthodox girl living in a typical shtetl fights stereotypes and family challenges in order to fulfill her truest ambitions.

What better way to demonstrate the power of Jewish women than with Women Who Broke the Rules: Judy Blume by Kathleen Krull, which tells the story of how Judy Blume went from housewife to one of the most influential children’s writers. Blume is truly an example of how with the right combination of wit, smarts, and talent, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Through her books and advocacy, Blume has become an unforgettable American Jewish voice.

And finally, what better way to celebrate Jewish Women’s History Month than with the founding voice of Jewish kids’ literature, Sydney Taylor! More All-of-a-Kind Family is the second in the acclaimed series that broke the stereotypes of both American Jewish life and kids’ fiction by capturing the beauty and warmth of this large and bustling immigrant family. Taylor made such a lasting impact on children’s literature that the Sydney Taylor Award for Jewish kids’ literature was created in her memory.

For Parents:

Here are some discussion questions to use with these PJ Our Way books:

Do you relate to the female characters in these stories?

What things in their lives made them feel strong?

What are things that make you feel strong?

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to act stronger than you felt?